Tories pay price of anti-Europe mindset

William Hague's speech represents a valiant Cameronesque attempt to straddle both wings of his party on the question of Europe (Conservatives strive to bridge divide on Europe, June 7). For the past few months he has been wandering around Europe looking for allies who share the Tory vision on Europe in the hope of breaking away from the European People's party and forging a distinct path that is neither one thing nor the other. His mission now having failed, both Hague and his party are backpedalling on their pretensions to form a new force of like-minded politicians in Brussels.

Hague praises the benefits of Europe's single market and its successful policy on enlargement, which has brought peace and stability to former Comecon countries. Yet he still refuses to see why Europe's creaking institutional set-up needs to be upgraded and streamlined so that the new union of today, comprising 25 and shortly 27 member states, can continue to function well. The Conservative party is stuck in the mindset that Europe is bascially a plot against Britain.

The reality, for all those with a genuinely open mind, is that Europe is changing - regulating less, reforming its budget and farm policies, while tackling issues the public care about, like cross-border crime and environmental pollution. Tories seem to will the ends, but not the means. Without some form of basic text that sets out once and for all the relationship between the EU institutions and the member states, this discussion will be never-ending.

In the meantime, I am pleased the Tories have finally seen sense and no longer intend to force a premature divorce from their pro-European continental partners. If they ever hope to return to being a party of government, they need to recognise the need for partners and influence in Europe is as much in Britain's as in Europe's interests. Graham Watson MEP Leader, Liberal and Democrat group

In your report on Conservatives and the EPP (June 2), you say that "leaving the EPP would cut off Conservative MEPs from EPP funds". This is a complete myth put about by the pro-EPP faction. I was until May 2005 the treasurer of the Conservative delegation, so I know the numbers. The EPP top-slices the parliamentary funding attracted by its MEPs, so that the Conservatives get less per head than "unattached" members. They receive around €35,000 a head annually, compared with €40,000 for the unattached.

On forming a new group, MEPs would receive around €65,000, and while a little of this might be required for group overheads, most would go to the delegation. There would also be big savings on staffing. On leaving the EPP and forming a new group, the Conservative MEPs would be at least £500,000 a year better off. Roger Helmer MEP East Midlands, Conservative